She smiled vaguely, and blushed—she blushed at everything, this little wood-nymph.
‘What is the good news you have for the girl?’ asked Mr Hadleigh sharply, although he had not appeared to be observing anything.
‘I suppose there can be no harm in telling you, although it is a kind of a secret.’
‘What is it?’
‘Caleb Kersey is making up to Pansy; but old Sam does not like it, as the young man is so unsettled. The good news I have for her is that Kersey has joined me, and will have good wages and good prospects.’
‘You might have told her at once.’
‘I thought it better that the man himself should do that.... But you had something to say about yourself.’
‘It concerns you more than me,’ said Mr Hadleigh, resuming his low meditative tone. ‘I have been altering my will.’
There are few generous-minded men who like to hear anything about even a friend’s will, and much less about that of a parent who in all probability has a good many years still to live. Philip was extremely sensitive on the subject, and therefore found it difficult to say anything at all when his father paused.
‘I would rather you did not speak about it,’ he said awkwardly. ‘There is and there can be no necessity to do so. You have many years before you yet, and in any case I shall be content with whatever arrangement you make.’